Gunmen attack church near Cairo, kill seven – ministry (Update 2)

A priest reacts at the site of attack on a church in the Helwan district south of Cairo

A gunman opened fire on worshippers and Egyptian security forces stationed outside a Coptic church in a Cairo suburb on Friday and killed at least seven people before he was wounded and arrested, the Interior Ministry said.

Earlier reports by security sources and state media said at least two attackers were involved, and that one was shot dead and another fled the scene. The interior ministry did not explain the reason for the different accounts.

It said the attacker had first fired at a shop 4 km (3 miles) away, killing two people, before proceeding to the Mar Mina church in the southern suburb of Helwan, where he opened fire and tried to throw an explosive device.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Islamist militants have claimed several attacks on Egypt’s large Christian minority in recent years, including two bombings on Palm Sunday in April and a blast at Cairo‘s largest Coptic cathedral in December 2016 that killed 28 people.

Nine were killed in total, including one policeman at the church, the ministry said. Several security sources and local media earlier reported three policemen had been killed.

The ministry said forces had “immediately dealt with the (attacker) and arrested him after he was wounded.” It added, “Legal measures have been taken,” without elaborating.

The general prosecutor said in a statement that an investigation has been launched into the incident.

“The shooting began at 10:30 am and carried on for more than 15 minutes … there was more than one attacker,” Mohammed Hussein Abdelhadi, who lives close to the church, told Reuters.

A witness who did not want to give his name said a policeman was killed while he was closing the church gate to stop the gunman getting in.

The church was being guarded by police in the run-up to Orthodox Christmas celebrations next week.

The Health Ministry said in an earlier statement that nine people had been killed on Friday in addition to the gunman, and five wounded, including two women in serious condition.

Police have stepped up security measures around churches ahead of Coptic Christmas celebrations on Jan 7, deploying officers outside Christian places of worship and setting up metal detectors at some of the bigger churches.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi offered his condolences to the families and ordered security forces to increase safety measures at sensitive sites, his office said in a statement.

Maybe someone can explain to me why certain Muslims take to bombing and causing destruction and death to other Islamic mosques and also christian churches and other faiths places of worship? I thought this died off in the centuries past?

Veritas

For the same sick fanaticism like far right bombings in 1980 at Bologna train station (85 killed) and the Oklahoma bombing 1995(168 killed). All killed were their Christian fellow citizens.
My point is, that these horrific crimes didn’t die “in the centuries past” and isn’t confined to Muslims only.

oratis

1980 and 1995 were a while back, the muslim bombings in Egypt and attacks in Europe are now and ongoing.
for non muslim sects attacking muslims look at what the Buddists are doing to the muslims in Myamar, that’s why there are a lot of refugees from there fleeing to Bangladesh in that respect you are right that these crimes are not only confined to muslims. But recently they are mainly muslims, though there are also others.
one could argue that the West’s attack on Iraq of George Bush and his stupid poodle Tony Blair , because the British have a mental illness when it comes to supporting every wrong policy America has, has given good reason for the muslims to have greviances against the West.
but as for bombing innocent Coptic Christians, there is just no excuse. I personally know some Coptic Christians and I can tell you that the ones I know are more devout and better people than a lot of Orthodox Christians that I know.

Veritas

Agree to many of your points.
Especially what’s going on in Myanmar is a genocide, forgotten by the World, since the victims are poor and without a homeland. But they are HUMANS!
There are non-muslim bombings ‘now’ in 2017 in both Germany and USA. But those bombings or terror attacks never get the same publicity.
We must all condemn all types of terror, from wherever they come.

Evergreen

You are a better human being.Bliss.

Sistine301

Christianity had nothing to do with Bologna or Oklahoma, so your mentioning it is deliberately misleading.
Do suggest what should be done when a source is identified for potential violence, (as expressed dozens of times before).

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